Piano-hammer



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PERCIVAL, OF AUBURN, NEYV YORK.

PIANO-HAMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent N0. 24,659, dated July 5, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PERCIVAL, of Auburn, county of Cayuga, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of one of the keys and hammer of a piano with their connections. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of one of the hammers of a piano full size.

The perfections of a piano as a musical 1nstrument, depends upon the full, clear and rich tones that it gives out when the keys are struck. To produce these tones in their highest perfection, is the great aim of all constructors of this instrument, and this perfection depends upon the general arrangement, excellence in the finish, the adjustment of the diierent parts, and especially upon the construction of the hammer, the form of the head, and the arrangement of the covergThe hammer is usually made of wood, and the head covered with a soft elastic material generally buckskin. The head tapers from just above the shank to the top, which gives to the head the form of a truncated wedge, the edge of the wedge being transverse to the line of the strings of the insrument, and the breadth of the head varying with diii'erent constructors, but all making it as narrow as possible, co-nsistent with the durability of the covering. The covering consists of several plies of buck-skin in short strips shaved thin at the ends, and wrapped successively over the head transversely, extending down on the sides and cemented, thus forming a rounded cushion on the head of the hammer. The great objection to a hammer thus constructed, is, that durability, elasticity and small area of striking surface cannot be combined, the two latter being essential to give to the strings a full and free vibration without which the tones of the piano are fiat.

In giving to the hammer great elasticity so that it will rebound instantaneously after it strikes the strings, and not interfere with their full vibration, it involves the necessity of placing several thicknesses of buckskin over the hammer head; thus giving great breadth to the striking part, which rapidly increases as the hammer becomes flattened` or worn by use, and which, as is well known affects the tone of the piano. If the head of the hammer is made thin at the top, so that when covered, a smaller striking surface is given to the cushion the durability of the covering is aifected, the thin edge soon wearing away or cutting the inner ply of the covering, which being unsupported yields so that the face of the pad becomes flattened or the pad loose on the hammer.

To overcome these defects in the hammers is the principal object of my improvement.

My invention for effecting this objectconsists in giving to the wooden head of the hammer a broad flat face, and forming the cushion on the top of the hammer by a series of layers of some elastic material arranged one above the other without extending down upon the sides of the hammer head as heretofore and then covering the whole by a single thickness of soft flexible and elastic material extending over the top of the cushion and down the sides of the hammer, thus forming a highly elastic and durable cushion with a narrow head.

In the accompanying drawing is represented my improved hammer, and its connection with the different parts by which it is operated. These parts consist of the piano key (A) to which is attached a spring (B) termed the jack. Above the jack a notched dog (C) called the butt is pivoted and attached to the outer end of the hammer handle (a) the opposite end of the handle entering the eye of the hammer head About midway between the hammer head and butt is a supporting rail on which the hammer handle rests when down. Immediately below the point of the hammer, is what is termed a check (It) which acts upon the back of the hammer, eases its descent after the blow is struck against the springs. Above the strings and nearly over the hammer is a pad termed the damper (G) whose oiiice is to arrest the vibrations of the strings when the finger is released from the key. As the arrangement and construction of all of these parts with the exception'of the hammer and its covering, is well known to those versed in the art, it is notnecessary to describe them more particularly, therefore I shall confine my further description to the hammer.

rThe wooden portion of the hammer head varies but little from the general mode of 4construction eXcept that it has a broad flat face. The covering (Z2) of the face consists of successive layers of some elastic material as leather, or pieces of vanier, cloth or felt, of about the same form and dimensions as the face of the hammer, placed one above the other, and cemented together, the lower layer being also cemented to the face of the hammer. The lupper layers (c) may be rounded to give to the hammer head the proper form, and the Whole is covered by a single strip of soft leather (d) passing over the top layer and down the sides of the hammer to Which it is cemented. Any number of layers of leather or Vanier or cloth or felt thus arranged to form the cushion on the hammer face may be used, they may either increase or diminish in size from the face of the hammer upward, depending upon the form desired to be given to the head; and one or more strips of leather or cloth, or felt, or other material substance passing down the sides and over the top may be used to cover them. It Will be seen that from the construction and arrangement of this covering to the face of the hammer, that greater elasticity may be given to the cushion, with small area of striking surface to the head, and still the covering of the hammer possess great durability as the cushion is fully supported by the broad Wooden base of the hammer face, Which, as on other hammer heads, does not necessarily vary with the form of the head. Not only is the elasticity and durability of this cov ering to the hammer face much greater than the old form, but the cost is less, as its requires a much smaller amount of material and less labor to make a more perfect and elastic pad.

Having thus described my improvement in hammers for pianos What I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Constructing and arranging the cushion forming the elastic covering to the hammer head substantially as described for the purpose as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name.

JOHN PERCIVAL. Witnesses VOLNEY S. NELSON, JAMES NELSON. 

